I’ll tell you something: I didn’t see that coming. And I don’t know if it fits. It feels kind of bolted on.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m straight. However, I have no problem at all with gay people. It isn’t my cup of tea, but that doesn’t mean I have to make a big deal about your cup of tea, does it? Not at all. So I don’t want anyone to think I’m railing against gay people. Nothing could be further from the truth.

I don’t think that this is right for the character.

Iceman has long been a favorite character of mine. I’ve always known he’s extremely powerful and very underutilized. He’s never had a nemesis, he’s never had the attention, he’s never had the following, so as a character, he’s never had to step up and be held accountable. And that’s a shame. Iceman deserves all of that.

And now he’s gay? Where does that even come from? Why make that change? Why make such a material change to a character that’s going to affect them for the rest of their “life”? Why risk the possible alienation of the reading public with this? Iceman needs a bigger role, not to be marginalized! And that’s what I’m afraid this will do. Northstar, anyone?

Again, this doesn’t feel like it’s a natural extension of the character. Things happen to other characters to take them from one place to another. The Hulk goes through something and gets another personality? That’s fine. Some characters are raped, and this helps to inform their backstory? Okay. (NO! Rape is NOT okay. You know what I mean. Stop it.) Some characters go from evil to good and back again? That’s to be expected.

However, to me, making Iceman gay is like saying Bruce Wayne is a card carrying member of the North American Man/Boy Love Association. It just feels wrong. And while there may be evidence of this for Batman, there’s no evidence of this ever in Iceman’s history.

Sure, he could be in the closet. That’s fine. I can understand that. However, he’s had at least three psychics in his head over the years. Why hasn’t this come out sooner?

This does not seem like the natural progression of the character. That’s what I find upsetting. There are other things that could have and should have been done to Iceman than this.